Overseaming sewing mechanism and pull-off device therefor.



- R. G, WOODWARD. OVERSEAMING SEWING MECHANISM AND PULL-OFF DEVICE THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18, 1902.

999,838. Patented J an. 12, 19 09.

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R. G. WOODWARD.

OVERSEAMING SEWING. MECHANISM AND PULL-OFF DEVICE THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18, 1902.

Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

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R. G. WOODWARD, OVERSEAMING SEWING MECHANISM AND PULL-OFF DEVICE THEREFOR. APPLICATION FILED PEB.18, 1902.

909,838, Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

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UNITED STATS PATENT FFIQE.

RUSSEL G. WOODWARD, OF \VAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNION SPECIAL SEWING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

OVERSEAMING SEWING NECHANISM AND PULL-OFF DEVICE THEREFOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

Application filed February 18, 1902. Serial No. 94,699.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUsseL Gr. VVooDwARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at W'aukegan, in the county of Lake, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Overseaming Sewing Mechanism and Pull-OE Devices Therefor, of which the following is a description, ref erence being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

The present invention relates to an improvement in over-seaming sewing machines, particularly to machines of that type em bodying, a thread-carrying looper, a spreader,

and a reciprocating needle, the parts cooperating to form over-edge stitches for binding or ornamenting the edges of fabrics.

The present invention is an improvement or development of certain features illustrated in the Patent #837,106, granted to Lansing Onderdonk and myself November 27th, 1906.

The improvement herein shown and described has special reference to the mechanism for pulling off, and controlling the needle threads in the machine illustrated in the above mentioned patent, but, of course, may be applicable to other types of machines, and I, therefore, do not wish to be limited exclusively to a machine of the exact type shown.

My invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and referred to in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, Figure 1 is a front view of the Union Special interlock machine, embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view with the bed plate and most of the mechanism broken away, leaving only sufficient of the mechanism to enable a clear understanding of my improvements; Fig. 3 is a top plan view partly in section, of Fig. 2; Fig. 3 is a detail of the pull-01f; Fig. -it is a detail view showing the position of the parts of the stitch-forming mechanism as the spreader is about to release the needle loop; Fig. 5 is a detail view with the needle lever in section showing the nipper spring;

Fig. 6 is a detail side view of the needle thread pick-up; Fig. 7 is a detail side elevation, partly in section, of the mechanism for adjusting the looper thread eyelets; and Fig. 7 is a detail of the connection between the eyelets and the adjusting rod.

It is not necessary herein to refer, except in a general way, to the various elements of the machine, other than those which form the features of the present invention. It will be sufficient to refer for a more detailed description of those parts not herein specifically described and claimed, to the application hereinbefore referred to.

The shape of the machine is of the well known Union Special type, A being the bed plate, B the standard, C the gooseneck, D the needle lever, E the needle bar, F the needle bar carrier, and G the driving shaft.

N is the needle, L the looper and S the spreader or looping hook, the parts being so constructed and operating that the loop thrown out by the needle loop below the work plate is seized by the spreader or looping hook S and carried above the work plate to a point where the looper L in its oscillatory movement passes into it, and carries its own thread into position to be engaged by the needle in its next descent. The looper L is attached to an oscillating shaft M, and has suitably connected with its upper end so as to oscillate with it, an arm 100, having an eyelet 101, in its outer end. This movable arm is adjustably secured at its rear end through the slot 102 and screw 103, to the oscillating head 10%, to which the loopersupporting shaft is attached. A pointer 105 secured. at its rear end by screw 106, serves to indicate to the operator the amount of adjustment of; the movable arm 100. This movable arm projects forward toward the front of the machine, into the path of the stationary eyelet 84, and the pivoted eyelet 85, which latter has a link connection with the needle bar carrier, but which, for the purposes of this invention, may be considered stationary. Another stationary eyelet 88 is provided on the upper portion of the needle bar gate.

As shown in Fig. 6, secured to the top of the needle bar and reciprocating with it, is what I have termed a needle thread pick-up, 0. This is composed of two downwardly bent plates a, b, or one forked piece, and

having a spring 0, between the two. This friction device or pick-up 0, isv adapted in the downward mov'ement'of the needle bar,

to engage and hold by friction, the thread extending between the pivoted eyelet 85, and the eyelet 88. As the needle bar rises, the take up lightly engages the thread and carries the same up with the needle bar.

Intermediate the main pull-oft and the sions T, IV a e pla an n rmitt nt nipping device composed of two spring plates (Z, 6, attached to a plate or clamp f, secured to the gooseneck of the machine, he; needl thread; passing etween hese pr n plat nd be g al er ate y gripped ele s d by the spr ng pla i r th action of prejeetien 9-, 1 he n dle level? eav ng nt nd u of ontact w h one f he p ates; he Dipp pr ngs eing clo d, While the pi h- 1p 0 f ti n v e 0 is operation, and open while the, main pull-off 1 1 aet en- A supp em n a pul r t Q is pr vided bet een h ppi g de e, and. he. t ns o T, adapt d Pu l-o thread for the use of the spreader, while the nipper springs are elesed, giving up this thread. te e preader wh n h y a e pened.- Thi upp menta pn i refi' m y be e a y s tab e n en, b t a r n shown. compr s s a lo p. i o re a aeh d te a sel r ereleihp he n l eve s, a e d r 10 1 the g o ehe h of the machine,

T e. ope ati t s pa ts may e riefly esc ibe as Q Z QW A um th need e a at st P it on an ab u t0 s end, se ha he need m y t w ut loop, the inte m ent nipp g d v c a been closed by the downward swing of the orward en o the nee l le e thu 110 hread s beinghe h em e poe st a d h t p rti n of the hrea wh h xte d between the needle bar lug eyelet, and the ft han ey t n he g e eh ele is e gaged by the friction clamp, or so-called Pi k- 1 de se. As th ne e e s s, h Pieh in de e. igh ly h ld the read and carries. the thread extendingbetween the v PEEL}? an he ye ef he need 11 th the needle, and straightens out the kink whie m ght e m d n th n ns e he eer, an c s h eer t e prep y thr wn out nd P si iehe l to be e gag d y the point a th pr ad b lease it preiet eel y as s en. as this gagem nt of pr der nee e leer takes Pl Meanw a ab e a d, th R pp r spring is closed so that the supplemental phl -efi betwe t e hipr r pring nd t sions is pulling off a slight quantity of thread I";rem the spoel, and by the time the p eader in it f rward nd. p ard m ement ha eel-Led the nee le leer.- out t the imit et the ee ef in he ne l t r h and ur he s ra n m ght break th t ea or draw on the seam, and curl or pucker the needle loop to the looper. As the needle bar reaches its highest point and begins to descend, the looper meanwhile having passed into the needle loop on the. spreader,

the main pull-oil acts by the swinging of f the guiding arin carried by the looper past the pivoted eyelet on the left or" the machine,

to pull-oil thread from the spools, until it reaches the limit of its swing to, the left, at which time the nipper springs have closed.

m he, abov tatement of peration, the timing of the main pull off and ithe. nip,- Pt fsprings will be apparent. The niPPer springs are closed by the needle lever, which perates he suppl ment pull off. The looper of course, is operated in timing so as to move iforward for the entrance of the needle into the looper thread loop. Therefore, the main pull oii which is carried by the l oper bar will move forwa d to pull thread during the forward movements of he ooper, whic take p c th y first part of the down stroke of the needle. It will therefore, be seen that I have pro; vided means for causing the gripping-(la vice or nipper springs to release the thread, while the main pull off is acting to pull thread from the supply, and to grip the same, while the supplemental pull off is acting.

In general, the looper thread pull-off is similarto that shown in the above entitled patent, as comprising the movable fingers or arms 7 ,l ,ViIig shoulders 8, extending between eyelets 9 on the frame of the machine, through which eyelets, the looper thread is gu ed, I a plane between these finge s. o arms is pivoted cast-off plate 11, which, at one time or another, according to its, position, s o. orce he th ea 0% t e lders 8, on the movable fingers 7, 7

As a further improvement in machines of this character, the pull-offfor the looper thread is made adjustable by adjusting the arms It, ear y hgthe. eyele s The rm are for-med on a common support a, which is adjusted back and forth by the screwthreaded rod U, having on one end the thrr nh piece is and screw-threaded through a part oi} the goose neckof the machine, and at its other end attached to the support for the arms This support fits in a depression on the gooseneck of the machine, being le ted a t, an h v ng he xt rna pl e 1, eemed o th ee e e k by the re Whieh pas h ug he o he p ate a late the amount of looper thread required, when thickness of goods, or tightness of stitch varies, and this, too, can be done without stopping the machine, by merely turning the screw rod U.

It will be understood that this feature of the operators being able to regulate the amount of looper thread without stopping the machine is of great practical importance in a machine 01": this character; for example, very frequently an operator will have a number of lots of goods brought to her of varying weight or thickness and by this arrangement she can run from one lot to another without stopping the machine and regulate the supply of thread for the looper to give the proper elasticity to the stitch by simply turning the screw rod U in one direction or other.

The mechanism for adjusting the looper thread pull-off, herein shown and described, is not claimed, as it forms the subject matter of the claims of an application filed by me on the 17th day of April, 1902, Serial No. 103,323, said application having been filed as a division of this one.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an overseaming machine having stitchforming mechanism including a needle, a pull-off device for drawing needle thread from the supply, an intermittently acting gripping device, and a supplemental pull-off acting upon the needle thread, the main pull-o being located between the needle and the intermittently acting gripping device, and means for operating the latter to cause it to release the thread while the main pull-off is acting, and to grip the thread while the supplemental pull-ofl' is acting; substantially as described.

2. In a sewing machine, a pull-off device for the needle thread, an intermittently acting gripping device therefor, constant tensions, and a supplemental pull-off located between the intermittently acting gripping device and the constant tensions, the main pullotf being located between the needle and the intermittently acting gripping devices, with means for causing the gripping device to release the thread while the main pull-ofi' is acting to pull thread from the supply and to grip the same while the supplemental pull-ofl' is acting; substantially as described.

3. In a sewing machine, a main pull-oil device for the needle thread, a reciprocating pick-up for engaging the needle thread in the upward movement of the needle and carrying the needle thread up with the needle, an intermittent gripping device with means for, causing it to release the thread while the main pull-ofl' is acting and to engage it when the friction device is acting and a supplemental pull-oil with means for causing it to pull oil thread while the gripping device is holding the thread; substantially as described.

l. I11 a sewing machine having stitch forming mechanism including a needle and means for operating it, a looper cooperating therewith, a spreader or looping hook arranged to take a loop of needle thread and carry it into position to be engaged by the looper, a main needle thread pull-oil, an intermittently acting gripping device, a supplemental pull-01f and means for causing the gripping device to release the thread, while the main pull-off is acting, and to engage the thread while the supplemental pull-0E is acting; said supplemental pull-ofi giving up thread to the spreader substantially as described.

5. In an overseaming machine, including a needle, a looper and a spreader arranged to take a loop of thread and carry it into position to be engaged by the needle in its descent, a plurality of pull-oil devices acting upon the thread and ,an intermediately located intermittently acting gripping device for said thread; one of said pull-oil devices giving up thread to the spreader substantially as described.

6. In a sewing machine having stitchforming mechanism, including a needle and means for operating it, a thread carrying looper and means for operating it, a spreader or looping hook, arranged to take a loop of needle thread beneath the work plate and carry it into position to be engaged by the looper, a main needle thread pull-0E, a triotion device for engaging the needle thread in the upward movement of the needle, and carrying the needle thread up with the needle, tension devices, and an intermittent nipper spring with means for causing it to release the thread while the pull-01f is acting, and to engage it when the friction device is acting; substantially as described.

7. In a sewing machine having stitchforming mechanism, including a needle and means for operating it, a thread carrying looper and means for operating it, a spreader or looping hook, arranged to take a loop of needle thread beneath the work plate and carry it into position to be engaged by the looper, a main needle thread pull-off, a friction device for engaging the needle thread in the upward movement of the needle, and carrying the needle thread up with the needle tension devices, and an intermittent nipper spring with means for causing it to release the thread while the pull-off is acting, and to engage it when the friction device is acting, and a supplemental pull-oft between the nipper spring, and the tension to supply slack thread for the spreader; substantially as described.

8. In asewing machine, a pull-off device for the needle thread, a pick-up device for the same independent of the pull-oft, an intern ittent gripping device tor the thread, and a supplemental pull-off: tor the needle thread With means for operating said inteninitte-nt gripping device to, causeit to release the thread While the main, pull-O f devices are operating, and for gripping the thigead while the supplemental pull-off; is acting; substantially as described.

9. In a sewing machine and in combination with the stitch forming device, an ad justalole thread guiding arm a d n ans r re i ro a ng nd atin w ce qr Poi te mou te n a p ne a ov a d hrea guid g ia c p i g with it to, indicate the amount of adjustment 15 thereof; substantially as described. 4

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses,

RUSSEL VOODWABD. Witnesses CH T MQNEI J L U 

